The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) today launched a “Medicare March” paid and grassroots campaign to hold 41 vulnerable House Republicans accountable for the new Republican budget that chooses “Millionaires over Medicare.” The first phase of the DCCC’s campaign will hold these targeted Republicans accountable with automated phone calls that will patch voters through to their Member of Congress' office so they can urge them to vote against the new Republican budget that ends the Medicare guarantee for seniors, while protecting tax breaks for the ultra wealthy. The campaign also includes citizen phone banks and a new online Medicare Action Center, MedicareMadness2012.com.

Last year, House Republicans voted for a budget that would end Medicare, almost doubling health care costs for seniors according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), while protecting these tax breaks for billionaires and Big Oil. Tomorrow, Republican Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan is introducing a plan to do it again.

“It’s March which means House Republicans are on a maddening push once again to end Medicare and raise health care costs for seniors, while giving more special tax breaks to Big Oil companies and millionaires,” said DCCC Chairman Steve Israel. “Republicans have made their priorities crystal clear, once again. We will go district by district to hold Republicans accountable for their reckless and relentless efforts to balance the budget on the backs of seniors.”

The Medicare Action Center, MedicareMadness2012.com, gives grassroots Democrats information on upcoming town hall meetings with the tools they need to speak out about the Republicans’ newest plan to end Medicare. The center gives voters access to tools to participate in online phone banking, write letters to Members of Congress and letters to the editor, and get Facebook and Twitter updates.

The text of the patch through phone call running against Congressman Charlie Bass (NH-02) follows:

Hi, this is Ann from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee calling about Congressman Charlie Bass and House Republicans’ newest scheme to end Medicare.

Republicans in Washington have a new budget that chooses millionaires over Medicare. One independent analysis found that the plan would “shift substantial costs to beneficiaries” and “lead to the demise of traditional Medicare.”

Congressman Charlie Bass has the wrong priorities. House Republicans like Bass demand seniors who earned their Medicare benefits spend thousands more, but refuse to end tax loopholes and giveaways for millionaires. It’s just not fair and it’s not right.

We all agree Washington needs to cut spending, but it should be done the right way, not on the backs of seniors.

Press 1 to be connected to Congressman Bass’s office and tell him to protect Medicare for seniors, not tax breaks for Millionaires.